INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A new
report by state child-welfare officials says 34 Indiana children died from
abuse or neglect in the 2012 fiscal year.

The annual child fatality
report released Friday by the Department of Child Services says seven of the
deaths involved children or perpetrators who had prior contact with the
agency.

DCS officials reviewed the
circumstances of 295 childrenís deaths between July 1, 2011, and June 30,
2012, that were deemed sudden, unexpected or unexplained, or involving
allegations of abuse or neglect.

The agency substantiated
abuse or neglect in 34 of those cases. Thatís six fewer child abuse and
neglect deaths than in 2011.

The report says 15 children
died of abuse-related injuries and 19 died of neglect. Nearly 62 percent of
children who died were 1 year old or younger.